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Heyward lands on DL; Zagunis, Floro recalled

By
Patrick PinakMLB.com

MIAMI -- The Cubs were hoping Jason Heyward's left hand would heal more quickly than it has, but ultimately the injury was too severe to avoid a disabled list stint.

The Chicago outfielder was placed on the 10-day DL on Thursday, retroactive to Monday, after he sustained an abrasion by scraping it on the warning track while trying to catch a foul ball at PNC Park on Sunday.

MIAMI -- The Cubs were hoping Jason Heyward's left hand would heal more quickly than it has, but ultimately the injury was too severe to avoid a disabled list stint.

The Chicago outfielder was placed on the 10-day DL on Thursday, retroactive to Monday, after he sustained an abrasion by scraping it on the warning track while trying to catch a foul ball at PNC Park on Sunday.

Given Heyward's situation, along with Kyle Schwarber's demotion and that Ben Zobrist is still out with a wrist injury, Cubs manager Joe Maddon knows his offense is thinning a bit.

"The biggest thing for us is to pitch well," he said. "The worst thing I think would be to overtax the bullpen now to the point where it really could impact over the next several games."

Zagunis, Floro recalled

Mark Zagunis batted ninth and manned right field in his Major League debut Thursday after his contract was selected from Triple-A Iowa. He grounded into a fielder's choice in his first at-bat, but drove in a run on the play.

The Cubs also recalled reliever Dylan Floro, who enters his fourth stint with the club this season. He entered Thursday having made two appearances this year, posting a 8.53 ERA.

Zagunis, who was batting .249 with with 11 homers in Iowa, provides Maddon with a bat in place of Heyward.

"He's a great hitter," Maddon said. "He's got a really good approach, nice short swing. He runs the bases well. The thing we worked on mostly [in Spring Training] was his defense to really understand routes better."

Hendricks close to throwing

Maddon isn't sure when right-hander Kyle Hendricks will play catch for the first time since suffering tendinitis in his right hand, but he could be close.

"He said he felt better. He's getting close to being able to play catch," Maddon said. "I talked to him on the plane yesterday. He said he felt significantly better, so I don't have anything other than that. But that was good news."

Zobrist not ready to return

Zobrist is eligible to come off the 10-day DL Friday, but that likely won't happen.

Dealing with inflammation in his left wrist, the Cubs' star has attempted to hit, but he is still not comfortable. He ran the bases at Wrigley Field on Wednesday.

"It's not ready yet," Maddon said. "When he's ready to go play, we'll send him probably on a rehab. We're not quite there yet. He's tested it regularly. He's still not satisfied."

Patrick Pinak is a reporter for MLB.com based in Miami who covered the Cubs on Thursday.